Camp Smile is a multi-specialty dental office made up of pediatric dentists and orthodontists, which focuses on pediatric dental care for infants, children and teens, and orthodontic care for teens and adults. Camp Smile has several clinic locations in Minnesotas Twin Cities metro area. Dr. Bobbi Augustyn, Dr. Colin Maguire, Dr. Amelia Leuer, Dr. Alison Seamans, Dr. Dwight Anderson, Dr. Brittany Granoski, and Dr. Brian Spencer, along with their team, are highly skilled, caring dental professionals who are committed to providing you and your child with a comfortable, educational and FUN dental visit!

Camp Smile is a place where kids come first and smiles are always the most important part of every day. Whether it's preventive, comprehensive, or emergency dental care, we go that extra mile to ensure infants, children, and adolescents have a friendly, upbeat dental visit in a fun environment. And regardless of how complex the medical or dental problem is, we can help your child.

What are some of your hobbies? Hiking, singing, strength training, boating with the family. I love to read, if I can get away on vacation long enough to do that. I also love to play ball; I throw a mean spiral!

Dr. Bobbi L. Augustyn graduated from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry in 2005, and completed her pediatric residency in 2007. She practiced in Hastings, Nebraska for three years prior to moving to Minnesota where she has been part of Camp Smile since 2010. Dr. Augustyn is the owner of Camp Smile Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics.

Dr. Bobbi is a member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and the Minnesota Association of Pediatric Dentistry. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Colin has learned so much from golf, a sport hes played since he was four years old. He enjoys being outside, the uniqueness of each course and the different challenges and opportunities each hole presents.

Its great to provide an experience that is hopefully positive and life-changing to a patient population that you can really impact, Dr. Colin says. I want to help each kid through whatever they need and have them high five me at the end so they dont have to be scared to go to the dentist.

Dr. Colin Maguire graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2012. After graduation, he completed a 1-year general practice residency in Oklahoma City, OK at the OU Children's Hospital. He then completed his pediatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where he served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Colin Maguire is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Dental Association, and the Minnesota Association of Pediatric Dentistry. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Amelia comes from a farming family, and horses were a fixture throughout her childhood. She first appeared in a horse show when she wasthree years old and started riding Patrick, her own shetland pony, when she was seven.

After school, she cleaned and groomed horses prior to spending at leastforty-five minutes riding. On weekends, she participates in equestrian and horse showings, winning her share of local and regional titles.

Although she won most of her awards with Snooky 2, Dr. Amelia stilllearned a lot riding Snooky 1 on trail rides at Cross Hassan Park Reserve. Snooky 2 enjoyed being pampered, preferred being inside, and did not like to get dirty.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I love spending time with my family. I would probably want to spend the day with them and take our motor home camping where we could hike, bike, grill, play games, boat on a lake, and sit around a bonfire.

Why do you love your job? Being a pediatric dentist is the best job in the world! It is a remarkable privilege to care for the dental health of children and patients with special health care needs. Every day incorporates fun, challenge, and a unique set of skills to guide children through the dental experience. I feel so blessed to be entrusted with this role and form relationships with children and their families to help promote healthy smiles that will last a lifetime.

Dr. Amelia Leuer graduated from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, with a B.S. in Biology. She then went on to earn her D.D.S. from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry. In dental school, Dr. Leuer was awarded the Student Leadership and Service Award in recognition of her demonstrated leadership. It was during her residency at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin that Dr. Leuer received extensive training in treating patients with special heath care needs and experience in hospital dentistry, sedation, orthodontics, and dental trauma.

Dr. Dwight grew up in Hankinson, North Dakota, a farming town with fewer than 1,000 people. As his friends started careers all over, they wanted to maintain their relationships and started a tradition. They would connect every year on a snowboarding trip.

A couple of them had snowboarded a few times, but none of us had a lot of experience, Dr. Dwight says. It was a struggle right away. Their first trip was to Whitefish Mountain Resort in Montana, and subsequent trips were in Utah and throughout Colorado.

These trips are so much fun, and exactly what we wanted it to be, Dr. Dwight says. Sometimes our significant others come, too. This year, theyre scheduled to go to Jackson Hole in Wyoming. They hope someday to travel abroad, to Banff and to Whistler in Canada.

Dr. Dwight appreciates his childhood growing up on his fathers corn and soybean farm. Being the youngest, Dr. Dwights older brothers had the greatest responsibilities on the farm; besides, he was drawn to health and science.

Thats what he experiences now, as an orthodontist. In fact, he can thank Dr. Amelia for getting him connected with Camp Smile. Dr. Amelia, a year ahead of him at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry, asked him what his post-graduation plans were.

Dr. Dwight then met Camp Smiles doctors and the team. We all got along and we joked around on day-to-day things, he says. I really enjoy working with kids, and our doctors and team have the same thought process when it comes to caring for patients.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I would find the closest body of water that provided weather in the mid-80s (and a light breeze), invite all my friends and family, and incorporate plenty of good music!

Why do you love your job? There are so many things I love about being an orthodontist that its hard to even know where to start! I love the problem-solving ability and mental gymnastics required to develop the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. I love the attention to detail required from my eyes and the accuracy demanded from my hands. I love having the opportunity to get to know a person (and usually family members) throughout their orthodontic journey. I love how rewarding it is that when all of this is combined, I have the opportunity to provide others with a more confident, happier, and healthier smile!

Dr. Dwight Anderson earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree with high distinction from the University of Minnesota, School of Dentistry, in 2018. He then went on to receive his Master of Science in Orthodontics (MS) from the University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center in 2020.

Dr. Alisons fondest childhood memories were spent with her family traveling and camping at state parks throughout Minnesota. They would explore, hike, swim, sing around a bonfire at night while her father played his guitar, and enjoy plenty of Smores.

Dr. Alison grew up around lakes and her fianc Mike grew up in the mountains, so they share a passion for the outdoors; so, it makes sense that one of their first investments together was a truck camper. They use it most weekends during the summer and always plan one long trip per year.

The two have visited Zion National Park in Utah, Olympic and Mt. Rainier in Washington, and they were engaged at Glacier National Park in Montana. They even planned to get married at Grand Teton National Park in August 2020, but due to COVID-19, they delayed their wedding plans to 2021.

I have been around children with special health care needs my entire life, says Dr. Alison, who had worked as a personal care attendant for a child with autism before college. I realized I had a desire to treat and work with each child individually in order to meet their unique needs. I have the privilege to help shape their dental experience into a great one! Dr. Alison says. I feel so lucky to be able to do the work I do and have fun doing it!

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? With my family in our camper, exploring a new and exciting location or returning to an old favorite! One of our favorite spots is Gold Bluffs Beach in California.

Dr. Alison Seamans graduated with her B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She then went on to earn her D.D.S. from the University of Oklahoma College of Dentistry. While in dental school, Dr. Seamans received the Jerome B. Miller Award of Excellence in Pediatric Dentistry and the American Dental Society of Anesthesiology Certificate of Recognition, to name a few. During her residency, and experience within private practice Dr. Seamans gained experience in treating patients with various medical complexities. She acquired additional skills to perform comprehensive dental care in both the traditional clinical setting and the hospital operating room setting.

Dr. Seamans is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Academy of Developmental Medicine and Dentistry, and a diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.

I loved growing up in Canada, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to live in so many different parts of the beautiful country, Dr. Brittany says. Ive had the opportunity to experience many of the different landscapes and cultures Canada has to offer, from the Rocky Mountains to the prairies, and both coasts. Every part of Canada is unique.

In her family, Dr. Brittany is the exception. Most of her family lives in St. Albert, a city northwest of Edmonton. Growing up, she grew to love skiing, snowboarding, skating, hiking and riding bikes.

What superpower do you wish you had? I wish I could slow down time. I am so lucky to live the life I do and sometimes wish I could slow it down to soak it all in more. It would also help to have more time when I procrastinate. Theres so much to see in this world, and not enough time!

What is one of your actual superpowers? I make the best paper airplanes. In high school, my part-time job was at a gym, working in a play care center, and I found myself making a lot of paper airplanes. I did it all the time.

Dr. Brittany Granoski graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2018 with her Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.). After graduation, she completed a 1-year Pediatric General Practice Residency at IWK Health Centre, Dalhousie University. She then completed her pediatric residency at the University of Minnesota, where she served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Brittany Granoski is an active member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Minnesota Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the Nova Scotia Dental Association, and the Canadian Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Dr. Brian is originally from the state of Montana! While growing up, he loved to enjoy all the outdoor activities the state had to offer, but his favorite by far was skiing. He first strapped into skis when he was just two years old!

There was a little backpack harness that was put around me, and then my dad would secure the straps to his waist and help me meander down the slopes, Dr. Brian says. My parents laugh and tell stories about it because wed probably get like one or two runs in, and then itd be time to go warm up.

Dr. Brian grew up in a town called Great Falls, and his family spent a lot of time at Showdown, an alpine ski area in the Little Belt Mountains, about an hour from their home. He frequently took lessons there, especially from age 5 to 12.

Skiing is the best of both worlds, he says. for me, its kind of a way to enjoy a really fast, active sport, that has a little less chance of injury. Falling into powder is like falling into a big fluffy pillow!

Dr. Brian says Snowbird in Utah and Jackson Hole in Wyoming are among his favorite ski resorts outside of Montana, of course. For Dr. Brian, nothing beats skiing fresh powder, especially if youre able to catch it on a sunny day.

What superpower do you wish you had? This is a good one! I think Id have to say the ability to fly. As someone who likes to travel, it would be so nice to be able to just go wherever you want, whenever you want to!

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? Id love to spend the whole day with close friends and family, exploring the Great Barrier Reef and hopefully run into a couple turtles, my favorite animal.

Why do you love your job? A lot can be said about a smile. Its one of the first things people recognize about you, and Its something that can bring a whole new dimension of confidence and self-esteem to your life. As an Orthodontist, I get to help people achieve this everyday! I love being able to put a smile on patients faces!

Dr. Brian M. Spencer earned his D.D.S (Doctor of Dental Surgery) from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 2018, and received both his Master's of Science in Dentistry and his Certificate of Orthodontics in 2020, also from the University of Minnesota. He practiced in Kalispell, Montana for two years prior to moving to Minnesota where he has been part of Camp Smile since 2022.

I could not love and care for the Camp Smile families, doctors, and team members more, Katie says. The individuals who work at Camp Smile are the best group of people I could have ever of dreamed of working with.

What superpower do you wish you had? I wish I could read peoples minds. I think it would be fascinating to know what everyone around me is really thinking. I just dont want them to be able to read my mind in return!

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? First I would workout, shower, and then put my PJs for the rest of the day. Then I would curl up in front of the fireplace with a great book and a glass of wine. That. Sounds. Amazing.

Laurie calls herself a water girl, which shouldnt come as a surprise since she relocated to Pawleys Island, South Carolina, a three-mile long, one-quarter mile wide island about 30 minutes south of Myrtle Beach.

What superpower do you wish you had? To be able to speak and understand all languages fluently. People get scared to try to treat people as human beings, if you cant understand them. I think language barriers can be a huge problem but it doesnt have to be. I think everyone should know another language.

Michelle loves so much about her hometown of Silver Lake, a town west of the Twin Cities that boasts a population fewer than nine hundred residents. She loves the tight-knit community. In her youth, she was among fifteen to twenty children in town who regularly played together. Most of all, she loves her family tradition of fishing.

After graduating and starting her new job, Michelle is ready to regularly resume fishing on the nearby lakes. Although she often goes with her boyfriend and dog, she also brings along nieces and nephews.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? Sleep in and then spend the day at the lake enjoying each others company and making memories with family and friends. Catching fish would be a bonus!

Why do you love your job? The peoplethe patients, the families, and the coworkersare amazing. It is fun to see children excited to be at Camp Smile and learning about the importance of oral health! Plus, where else can you bust out in song or dance and have others join in?

What superpower do you wish you had?The superpowers Wonder Woman has. She is such a positive role model for females at any age! She is resilient, strong, clever, elegant and her hair always looks good.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it?Ideally, some sort of classic rock concert like Guns N Roses or KISS, Van Halen (with David Lee Roth), Def Leppard, Mtley Cre, etc My husband and I are diehards and try to attend every concert we can.

Why do you love your job?I love being able to see kids have a positive dental experience and being excited to come back! I have worked in several dental offices, and this is definitely the most welcoming.

Drews father played golf casually and introduced him to the sport when he was in elementary school. Drew liked the sport, but he was too busy playing baseball, basketball, and hockey for most of his youth.

Nicholes two sisters are both gluten-free, and they love her chocolate and vanilla cupcakes. She also enjoys making a chocolate torte and Bavarian cream, something her grandmother made every Christmas.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it?I would spend time with my nieces and nephews. We would get something to drink from Starbucks, and then do a little baking with a good movie on.

In September 2019, Jasons motorcycle club made its annual trip to the Wilderness Resort. One evening, around 9 p.m., Brittany was admittedly hangry, upset that she hadnt been able to eat dinner yet. But Jason insisted they walk to the beach.

What is one of your actual superpowers (something that makes you unique and special)? The ability to care about anyone. I love that my mom taught me to be a compassionate human. The world needs more of that. I love building peoples self-confidence and self-love up.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? Literally anything my three-year-old wanted. Id let her plan the day and then spend it with the rest of my family on my grandparents 80 acres. That is my happy place.

Favorite cartoon or animated movie? Frozen! I love the message this movie gives kids. And honestly, I tear up every time I watch it because of the bond between Elsa and Anna. Thats how close I am to my two sisters. We would move mountains for each other.

She considers herself a rock person, just like her mom. She was always on the hunt for cool looking rocks and then was eager to show her mother. As she got older, Tyra started to buy rocks that she thought were pretty.

What superpower do you wish you had? I wish I had telekinesis. I think it would come in handy! Im clumsy sometimes, so I could stop things from falling. Also, sometimes I dont feel like getting up to grab something and this way I could bring it to me.

As she got older, Thao says her interest in Super Mario grew, especially because it was a game that her mother liked to play. Then she continued to favor spinoff Mario games, like Super Smash Brothers.

Among her current favorite games are Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley and League of Legends. Thao says gaming stimulates her brain, and she enjoys playing with family and friends. In fact, she has a hard time playing games without others now.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? Food adventure! I would first look up every place I want to eat and drink (restaurants, bakeries, dessert places, you name it!), and spend the entire day trying a little bit of everything.

Scratch is a strategic game, with lots of different styles of play. Katelyns grandparents loved the game, and her father and grandpa hosted a regular card game. In fact, grandpa was the best in the family.

What superpower do you wish you had? Teleportation. Personally, I tend to be late to things. So I feel it would take a lot of stress off the travel time. And it would just be so nice to be able to be in a spot when you want to be in a spot.

Favorite cartoon or animated movie? The Little Mermaid. It reminds me of my childhood with my mom and dad, and twin brother. I would get to pick a movie one weekend, then hed pick one weekend, and Id always pick the Little Mermaid. He also picked the same thing, Captain America.

Jenna says the first book in the series came out when she was five years old. She started to read her first Harry Potter book when she was around eight or nine years old, she said, but Jenna didnt like it.

Jenna didnt watch her first Harry Potter movie at the theater but rather on DVD. She enjoyed it and was interested enough to watch another Potter movie on DVD. But after a few, Jenna liked the series and started to watch them at the theater. Then, as time passed, shed go to watch the latest in the series on opening night at a theater.

Heres a twist: Jenna says the books are far better than the movies. She was in her late teens, when she started reading the series, and she was amazed by the whole universe author J.K. Rowling created. Jenna says theres nothing like it, and shes drawn to so many different characters.

Jennas interest in Harry Potter has now gone beyond the movies and books. Shes completely outfitted a spare bedroom in her home with Harry Potter items, like a Goblet of Fire lamp that glows blue, a golden snitch clock, and all the banners of the different houses.

In Thailand, women would wear such pendants for important events, such as weddings. But she is a part of a Thai dance troop in the Twin Cities, and she performs four or five times a year and always wears the pendant. That means she must train monthly and then weekly as they near an event.

Her dance experience also parallels her role at Camp Smile, where shes thankful to be a part of such a great team. And because English isnt her first language, Kritsana appreciates opportunities to help kids who are having trouble expressing their frustrations and troubles.

Time is tricky for Danielle. For instance, if she could pick any superpower, she thinks she would enjoy time travel. But her actual superpower is being a mom, which means she is a master at juggling her two daughters activities, practices and games, piano recitals, musicals and band concerts. Oh, and her family also has an adorable English Bull Dog!

Every day is a new adventure. I love making them feel confident at their dental visit, especially when they are nervous, Danielle says. All of the staff and doctors are wonderful people to work with, which makes every day enjoyable.

Morgan had a revelation while working on a clay project in her seventh-grade art class. She realized she had talent and passion as an artist. So she continued to work with clay and did some abstract painting and drawing and even some art on computers.

It started modestly as an ice cabin but slowly evolved over the years. By the 1960s, it had transformed into a housecomplete with indoor plumbing. Historically, the cabin is the busiest over the Fourth of July holiday when everyone in the family sleeps over and watches fireworks over the lake.

Kaylees family lived twenty minutes from the cabin, so they were fixtures there throughout her childhood. She fondly recalls sitting on her grandpas lap as they drove the boat across Lake Minnetonka. Grandpa John took her and others on many adventures, including tubing, water skiing, and sailing. After their activities, theyd roast hot dogs and smores over a fire.

He was the most generous person, Kaylee says of her grandpa. Very positiveand he loved the cabin. He always had projects going on, [was] always trying to enhance it. He had ten sets of every tool and a workshop in the basement. He loved to see people enjoy the cabin.

Im super grateful for the Camp Smile family, Kaylee says. We help each other out, and were willing to teach. I just feel at home here. I now enjoy coming to work andthe experience that we create for patients.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I enjoy being outdoors. In the summer, Id love to be at the cabin or go rock climbing. In the winter, I would probably spend it ice skating; but, it would be really fun to go snowmobiling in the Colorado mountains.

In her earliest memories, Ashley recalls her mother reading aloud to her. Trips to the Jessie F. Hallett Memorial Library in her hometown of Crosby, Minnesota, were regular occurrences. By the age of four, Ashley had a go-to book.

After moving to the Twin Cities from Duluth, Ashley now spends more time with her two-year-old niece Maddi. Of course, she reads with her. It goes without saying that she must pass along her childhood favorite to Maddi.

Why do you love your job? I have been working with kids my entire dental career and love it! I love making kids dental experience a good time and just love chatting with the kids. They always tell the best stories.

Music was a constant throughout Serenias childhood. Her mother always had music playing in their home, and they would sing along on car rides. Her mother was intentional to expose her to music from different cultures. Theyd attend events with Native American instruments or African drums.

When she wears her headphones, Serenia often closes her eyes and pretends shes performing the song in front of 35,000 screaming fans. In reality, shes doing the dishes, laundry, or other household chores.

When shes not working, Ashley is probably traveling and we dont mean by foot, bike, or even car! She averages one trip a month, so its not surprising shes already been to Washington, Oregon, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Alaska this year.

Ashley searches for budget-friendly flights to locales that are usually warm and near water, and she loves to sample new foods, explore new landmarks and landscapes, and discover new cultures and experiences.

What superpower do you wish you had? I wish I could touch peoples hands and feel exactly what they feel (pain, emotions, etc). When people say something hurts, we dont know how it actually feels to them. If someone is excited, you would be able to share that exact feeling!

Growing up, Katie struggled with an undiagnosed learning disability. Although she tried hard, she often got Fs on her assignments, which impacted her confidence and others expectations of her in school.

During the COVID-19 quarantine, Leah stayed plenty busy, sketching and painting from her kitchen table. She works on art daily, sometimes even on napkins. One of her sisters took a picture of the moon over the lake behind their parents home, so Leah painted that picture and gifted it to her sister for Christmas.

Though she enjoys working on landscape images, Leah has begun to sketch people and dogs; sometimes, shell draw with her opposite hand in different positions. I have a significant amount of time to work on my art, she says, and its keeping me busy and happy.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it?I would start with brunch, then some yoga or a walk with friends, and some shopping. I like spending my evenings outside by a fire with friends and family making Smores.

The family tradition started in elementary school. Every single night, my mom gave us ice cream, Stacia recalls. Just a treat after dinner. My mom still does this, whenever I go visit. Two scoops as a kid, not any particular brand or taste, though she does prefer chocolate.

Stacia acknowledges that was not the healthiest habit, but she says she was a very active child, playing outside alongside neighbors in Norwood, just west of Chaska. We would explore, bike around town and make forts, Stacia says. During the summer, we were always spending quality time at the pool in town.

Stacia who is a mother now herself, says she no longer indulges in ice cream daily, but her mother has extended the frozen treat tradition to Stacias son. He spends a lot of time with my parents, Stacia says. I feel guilty, so we dont have it every day, but we still enjoy it plenty of nights.

On Mondays or Tuesdays, Stacia takes her son to Culvers, where she enjoys a chocolate Oreo or chocolate peanut butter Concrete Mixer. Pretty much any flavor tastes amazing. Eating ice cream is a good stress reliever, and its good for my soul.

During the pandemic, with more idle time, Frida returned to one of her favorite activities from childhood: Painting. Starting at age 4, Frida was fascinated by watercolors and crayons, so she embraced all art-related school projects. One of her most memorable was a scrapbook based on the Dork Diaries that featured her writing and drawing.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I would start off my day by going to have a nice, big breakfast at Original Pancake House. Then I would go home and have a TV show marathon.

Her succulents, for instance, dont like too much water. In fact, Laura has found a community of others passionate about plants on a Facebook group. Currently, she estimates she has 30 plants in her two-bedroom apartment.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I would spend a free day sleeping in and going and getting coffee, shopping at Target and finishing the day at the lake with a good book and kayaking.

What superpower do you wish you had? Teleportation or fly. I love to travel, so if I could save travel time, and fly to Greece for the day, that would be awesome! Plus, I think it would be neat to fly at night and see the city.

If you had a free day to do anything, how would you spend it? I love spending time with family and friends. My perfect free day in the summer would be swimming and boating at the lake. In the winter, I enjoy snuggling by the fireplace while watching movies and eating popcorn all day.

Arianna loves traveling and enjoys taking road trips throughout Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. She was disappointed when a long-planned trip to Croatia in June had to be postponed because of COVID-19.

I like traveling there because its fun to see my family and where my dad grew up, Arianna says. I lived there for three years when I was younger, and Ive been back twice. I am hoping to go back next year.

She always loved the idea of growing things from scratch, and it coming to life. She loved to say, This came from our garden, Sophie recalls. That gave her a lot of joy, even though it took months to cultivate.

Sophie says she definitely didnt fully understand what gardening meant to her mother when she was younger, but the cucumbers, tomatoes, green onions and zucchini were so much more than part of a meal.

Sophies mother continued with gardening, even while the family lived in a high-rise in South Korea for three years. With no yard and just a tiny balcony, her mother tapped into her creativity and managed to grow some vegetables.

Its just fun to get out on the water and have a good time, Tehya says. There were 11 cousins, and wed go tubing, kneeboarding and wakeboarding. I love the adrenaline, for sure. Ive always been a little bit of a daredevil type, with water sports.

More than anything, though, Tehya appreciates all the time to build connections with her cousins. That was important to her father, who grew up in a military family and didnt get to know his cousins as well.

She blames the passion or it is an obsession? on her older sister, Courtney. Kelsey had to tag along with her sister once to the mall, and she was immediately hooked. In fact, the sisters had a tradition of visiting the outlet mall to do some shopping with friends, and grabbing some lunch and ice cream while there.

We have always been close growing up, she said of her relationship with Courtney. Shopping was something that we would do during the summer, and its something weve continued to do as sisters, to bond, to hang out.

In those early years, Kelsey said they both loved shopping for shoes and clothes, especially at The Buckle. Kelsey lived with her sister in college, and they continued shopping together once or twice a week.

Over time, Kelseys shopping habits and traditions have changed. She doesnt spend as much time shopping, instead having specific stores she likes to visit. She prefers the stores at the Mall of America, and now likes comfy clothes, like athletic gear.

Sommer, who is from Saint Joseph, started skating when she was four years old. She fell hard for the sport, and she credits hockey for teaching her important life lessons, such as the importance of being a team player.

She looked up to and admired NHL superstars Alex Ovechkin and Jonathan Toews, even getting their hockey sticks to play with. Sommer played in high school, but she lamented that her team fell short of qualifying for the state tournament.